Working on the blog team at Shortform, I spend a lot of time writing about books, ideas, and how people learn. But, outside of work, I’ve always thought of myself as a fairly engaged reader, too—that’s a big part of why I was drawn to working here in the first place.
So, I decided to challenge myself: I’d use Shortform every single day for a month. I wanted to put myself in the shoes of a Shortform subscriber and see how it actually fits into daily life.
Week 1: Getting Oriented
I wanted to experience the app the same way a subscriber would. So I set myself a challenge: use it every day for a month, not just dipping in for work, but really building it into my personal routine. (Of course, I fully recognize that it’s not possible for me to be completely unbiased, but I did my best to come at this experiment from a neutral point of view.)
When I logged in with that mindset, what stood out first was how simple the interface felt. No overwhelming dashboards, streaks, pop-ups, or clutter. Just a library of book guides, articles, and collections.
A lot of people don’t realize this at first, but Shortform has two main types of content:
- Book Guides: In-depth breakdowns of nonfiction books, complete with added context, comparisons, and counterarguments.
- Articles: Shorter, original pieces on trending ideas, current events, and timeless topics like communication and productivity.
I gravitated toward books on communication and habits. Atomic Habits was my first book (it was recommended as a popular guide), but then I branched out into less-hyped titles that I might never have picked up otherwise.
First Impressions
I know what you’re thinking: “How can she write about the quality of the guides if she writes them?” Just to clear the air there, my job does not include the creation of the book guides in any way.
What stood out right away to me as a reader was the depth. Rather than “book summaries,” Shortform calls them “book guides,” which makes sense once you start reading them. The guides don’t just reword and list key points; they explain them in context, often adding analysis, background, and links to related ideas. They even add updated info and studies to books that were published years ago.
Instead of “Here’s what this book says,” it was more like, “Here’s what this book says (minus any filler), here’s why it matters, here’s how it connects to other things you might be thinking about, and here’s how you can apply the lessons to your life.”
Week 2: Making It a Habit
In the second week, I focused on trying to replace my doomscrolling with Shortform. For example, reaching for Shortform during small windows of downtime, like waiting for a Zoom call to start, having coffee in the morning, or unwinding in bed at night. It was a nice replacement for the social media apps I usually found myself drawn to.
What surprised me was how often the things I learned actually came up in everyday conversations and situations. For example, the Deep Work guide helped me set boundaries around my work schedule.
Trying the Audio
Midway through the week, I tried using the audio narrations of book guides while doing chores around the house and driving. Surprisingly, it felt more like listening to a podcast than an audiobook. It made my time doing chores feel engaging rather than passive.
Week 3: Changing How I Read
By week three, I started to notice a shift in the way I was reading, not just on Shortform, but in general. I stopped skimming through content to “get the gist” and started paying more attention to structure, logic, and argument.
Shortform’s guides don’t just summarize what an author says; they ask, “Does this idea still hold up? Is the author showing bias? How does it relate to other books? Where did they get their studies from?” You’re not just being fed information; you’re encouraged to engage with it and critically think about it.
That mindset transferred over into how I read full-length books, too. When I read a physical book after spending time on Shortform, I found myself noticing patterns and asking better questions.
Revisiting the Classics
Around this time, I also tried using Shortform to revisit classic books I’d already read years ago, like The Alchemist and The Time Machine. In each case, Shortform helped me see it with fresh eyes and learn more about the symbolism and backstories of the books.
Week 4: Goodbye, Doomscrolling
Toward the end of the month, I realized I was spending less time doomscrolling. When I felt the itch to pick up my phone, I’d open Shortform instead of social media apps. The barrier to entry was low, but the return on attention was high.
Surprisingly, Shortform Articles became my go-to reads when I had a few spare minutes. They were short enough to read in one sitting, but rich enough to stay with me. I felt like I was being filled in on current events while avoiding partisan bias.
Curated, Not Algorithmic
One of my favorite things about using Shortform was that it didn’t feel like an algorithm was deciding what I should read. The content isn’t chasing virality or engagement; it’s curated by topic, and I got to choose what was relevant to me and my goals.
That means I wasn’t bombarded with the same recycled content. I discovered books I’d never heard of before. I learned about authors outside BookTok. And I started connecting ideas across disciplines.
So, What Actually Happened?
Over the course of a month, I read around 20 book guides and a bunch of articles on Shortform. That’s more than I’d normally get through in three or four months of reading physical books. But rather than focusing on the number of books I read, the real difference was how I read. I wasn’t just skimming—I was engaging.
I started asking better questions about my habits, my goals, and how I spend my time. I got clearer on which ideas I want to apply—and which ones I disagree with.
Additionally, I was so interested in a couple of the book guides that I decided to pick up the full books and add them to my TBR list.
I Felt Mentally Sharper
This wasn’t something I expected, but reading regularly on Shortform made me feel more mentally awake. Like my brain had been doing cardio every day. I started making connections between ideas faster, and I felt more confident bringing up thoughtful points in conversation.
It’s hard to put the shift into words. But I felt sharper, more grounded, and more able to create my own opinions on what’s going on in the world around me.
I Finally Built a Reading Practice That Stuck
Most importantly, I started to create a reading habit that fits into real life. I didn’t have to block out an hour every day. I just needed a few minutes here and there—and the right material.
Because the content was engaging and well-structured, I kept coming back. Not out of obligation, but because I genuinely enjoyed the process of learning something new.
Final Thoughts
I know that this article and experiment come with a certain amount of preconceived bias, coming from a Shortform employee. But if I had done this experiment and come to negative conclusions, then I just wouldn’t have written this article at all.
After a month of daily use, I’m not going back to my old reading habits. Don’t get me wrong, I love physical books, and no app will ever replace the feeling of reading a book with a cup of coffee on a rainy day (or tea, if you’re into that sort of thing). But now I use Shortform as a supplement—a way to explore new ideas, revisit old ones, and decide which physical books I want to pick up and explore further.
If you’ve been meaning to read more but haven’t found a system that sticks, this might be the one that does.
If you want to try your own Shortform reading challenge, you can try a mini version of my experiment for free with Shortform’s 5-day free trial! If you do try it out, I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below.
